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The COSATU-affiliated Southern African Clothing & Textile Workers’ Union (SACTWU) has concluded the country's 2nd  national sectoral "COVID-19 Lockdown National Collective Agreement"

This was achieved late yesterday afternoon, under the auspices of the National Textile Bargaining Council (NTBC).

The agreement provides for  textile workers who are covered by the scope of the NTBC to be guaranteed full wage payment over the current COVID-19 lockdown period.

These full wage payments will be made up of a combination of workers' Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) monies plus a cash contribution from textile employers.

This national collective agreement was formally adopted by the textile bargaining council, late yesterday afternoon.

Just like we had previously said about clothing employers, we extend our appreciation to our textile employer colleagues for putting aside selfish interest during this period of national crisis we now jointly face.

We are particularly pleased that they have agreed with us that we cannot just run to government for everything, but that we must dig deep to find what we ourselves can contribute, as labour and employers.

This is not a bioscope with government being the movie and citizens just watching.

SACTWU had reached a similar agreement for clothing workers, earlier this week.

This means that  SACTWU has now achieved full wage protection coverage for about 79% of all our members, for this current lockdown period.

Regrettably, talks to conclude a similar agreement under the auspices of the leather bargaining council had collapsed on Wednesday afternoon, because footwear and leather employers were not prepared to make a cash contribution to their workers' lost wages during this period of national crisis.

Instead, footwear and leather employers have proposed that the burden must be further carried by workers, by reducing their annual leave and public holiday payment entitlements, or cajoling workers into such arrangements at plant level.

We have rejected their proposals, and as a trade union which stands firmly for the rights of workers, we will never agree to it without them contributing from their own monies. We are aware that they have done so unilaterally at some companies, and will challenge such illegal conduct immediately during this lockdown period, instead of waiting.

We find the refusal of footwear and leather employers to help, very sad. Instead of contributing some of their own money, we now see them furiously scrambling after workers' funds, such as that in the UIF.

However, we are determined to pursue a solution for all our members in all the sectors where we are organised, and will do so tirelessly and without fear or favour.

Issued by SACTWU